Julia p



(No Model.)

: J.- PJMATTINGLY.

METALLIG FASTENER.

.No.549,381. PatntedNov. 5,1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

JULIA F. MATTINGLY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

M ETALLlC FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,381, dated November 5, 1895.

Application filed September 6, 1895. Serial No. 561,628. (No modeL) To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIA F. MATTINGLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Fasteners, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to an improvement in clasps, and particularly to metallic fastening devices adapted for universal use whereby leather, textile fabrics, and other flexible ma terial may be securely fastened together.

My invention will be of great utility as an emergency fastening device-as, for instance, when a harness breaks the broken parts may be easily united by my device without the use of twine, rope, or of any special tools for repairing the break.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which may be manufactured at a minimum cost and which may be readily and expeditiously applied to the parts to be united.

The invention consists, primarily, of a metallic plate having hinged thereto at each corner prongs adapted to fold down upon the plate and a hinged strip folding transversely of the plate and fastened .thereto at its free end for holding the prongs in position against the plate.

Further, the invention consists in the precise construction of the prongs and in the various details of arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter described, and referred to in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of my invention, showing the prongs and securing-strip extended. Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the position of the parts when about to be ap plied, and Fig. 3 shows the device in plan when in operative position.

In the drawings, A represents a metallic plate of suitable size and shape, which forms the base of my metallic fastener. At each corner it is provided with eyes a, to which are riveted to have pivotal movement needlepivoted prongs B, preferably of the shape shown. These prongs, instead-of being riveted, as shown, to the eyes, may be hinged or otherwise pivotally attached to the corners of the plate.

About midway of one side of the plate is hinged or pivotally secured a strip 0, of about the relative width shown, which strip is provided at its free end with an opening engaging a button or head I) on the end of a springshank c, secured to the plate, whereby the strip 0 is secured in closed position.

In practice, supposing a harness trace should part, two of the prongs B would be passed through each broken end, this being rendered easy without the use of knife or boring-tool by reason of the needle-points. The

prongs are then turned inwardly against the fabric,their ends passing by each other by reason of their shape, and the strip 0 is then bent down and secured in position by the fastening device 0, thus holding the prongs closed and preventing accidental displacement thereof.

While I have described my device as applicable in emergencies to the repair of harness, it will be understood that it may be used as a machine-belt fastener or as a fastening device for textile fabrics, or, by attaching a button to it, it is adapted for attachment to various parts of garments, being constructed of any preferred size, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire. to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein described metallic fastener comprising a base plate, prongs hinged thereto adapted to pass through the fabric, a transverse strip secured to one side of said base plate and adapted to be bent over upon the surface of the fabric and above the points of the prongs and means for fastening said strip in closed position; substantially as described.

2. The herein described metallic fastener comprising a base plate, needle pointed prongs hinged to each corner thereof and adapted to pass through the fabric, a transverse strip hinged to one side and adapted to bend over against the fabric and above the points of the needle prongs and a clasp for holding said hinged strip in closed position; substantially as described.

3. The herein described metallic fastener comprising a base plate with ears at either corner, needle pointed prongs curved as shown and with their shanks riveted to said ears, a transverse strip hinged to one side of said plate and having an opening and a spring clasp provided with a button engaging said opening; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two wltnesses.

JULIA F. MATTLINGLY. \Vitnesses HARRY Y. DAVIS, CHAS. L. STURTEVANT. 

